The celebration continues for North Island College’s anniversary, as NIC has been honoured for its work commemorating its first 50 years.

The college received awards in several categories from the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards. Started more than 50 years ago, UCDA is a professional association for designers and design educators at educational institutions. It provides programming, professional development and networking for members.  

NIC won the following awards: 

  • Gold Award - North Island College 50th Anniversary Exhibit (Experiential/Environmental Category)
  • Silver Award - North Island College 50th Anniversary Identity (Brand and Identity Category)
  • Award of Excellence - NIC50 Campaign (Integrated Marketing Campaign Category)
  • Honorable Mention - North Island College In-House Body of Work (In-House, Small Team Category) 

“This accomplishment is a testament to the talent, dedication and collaboration of our Marketing and Future Students (MFS) and Community and Public Affairs (CPA) teams,” said Kelly Shopland, NIC Vice President, Students and Community Engagement. “It also reflects the strong partnerships we share across the college.” 

Along with the MFS and CPA teams, the award-winning project represents the contributions of many, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and leadership. NIC’s 50th anniversary multimedia campaign from 2025 featured a series of informative, interactive panels about NIC history that can be set up for events, the “Like a wave” video and an online exhibit with a timeline of key events. 

This year, the UCDA received 776 entries from post-secondary institutions across North America and beyond. The judges selected only 184 award winners, including 21 Gold Awards, 55 Silver Awards, 108 Awards of Excellence and 40 Honorable Mentions. 

Because of this recognition, NIC’s work was chosen for the 2026 UCDA Design Awards Show at the UCDA Design Conference in Kansas City, Mo., from Nov. 4 to 7.

The awards feature the work of leading post-secondary institutions. UCDA Award recognition reflects excellence within the post-secondary sector and among peers who understand the opportunities and challenges within higher education marketing and communications.  

The awards also provide international exposure for NIC and highlight the innovative work produced on Vancouver Island. 

“At a time when competition for student attention and institutional visibility continues to intensify, this recognition validates NIC’s strategic approach to building awareness, our story, what we offer and how we connect with prospective students, communities and partners,” Shopland said. 

In May, NIC’s MFS team also won an award for graphic design from the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD). The college earned an In-House Design Award of Merit for its brand ecosystem, which includes the current brand guide, icon libraries, editorial guides, templates and other resources.